Newsletter

December 2015

New Museum In the city of Larissa

Featuring over 2,000 finds from excavations carried out in Larissa, Trikala and Karditsa, a new museum opened its doors to the public in the city of Larisa in central Greece earlier this month. The new museum aims to serve as a reference point for the history of region of Thessaly in central Greece, covering a wide spectrum of historical periods and areas of interest. The museum, housed in a 1,500m2 space, is divided into 11 thematic units featuring exhibits from the Palaeolithic to Modern times and covering the development of the region through historic themes. For more information: http://news.gtp.gr/2015/11/30/new-larissa-museum-offers-timeless-insight/

How to get there: Fly from London Stansted to Thessaloniki with Ryanair for about £68 return per person and hire a car and drive two hours to Larissa and stay in Hotel Kouria from €40 a night per person http://www.hotelkouria.gr/

Tinian marble craftsmanship included on UNESCO List

The Greek island of Tinos has been recognised for its long and ancient tradition of marble carving by UNESCO. Tinian marble craftsmanship has been included in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in its 10th session held earlier this month. This UNESCO project aims to ensure the protection and awareness of significant cultural heritage worldwide.

Amongst the generations of talented marble-smiths, Tinos has boasted many celebrated masters including Yannoulis Halepas, Dimitris Filippotis and George Vidalis. Tinos continues to this day to serve as an inspiration to future generations through its Preparatory and Professional School of Fine Arts in Pirgos village. For more information: http://www.unesco.org/culture/ich/en/RL/tinian-marble-craftsmanship-01103 

How to get there: Fly to Mykonos from London Heathrow with ba.com from end of April for about £148 return per person and catch a 35 minute ferry to Tinos for about £36 return per person. Stay at the luxury Diles & Rines in a two bedroom villa for about €153 per night per villa.   

Five Greek National Parks part of the UNESCO Global Geopark Network

As the Global Geopark Network officially came under the UNESCO umbrella last month, Greece was proud to announce that it now has five Greek National Parks recognised by the scheme as being of outstanding geological interest. These are the Petrified Forest on the island of Lesvos; the Vikos – Aoos National Park in Epirus, the Chelmos-Vouraikos National Park in the Peloponnese, the Psiloritis National Park in Crete and the last park to be admitted to the scheme – the Sitia Nature Park in Crete, which is full of ancient fossils, caves and gorges. For more information: http://www.globalgeopark.org/

Rhodes Selected for TripAdvisor's First 'Destination Academy' Event in Europe

The medieval island of Rhodes has been selected as the first European destination to host the Destination Academy (DATA) event that will take place on 16-17 February, 2016. The DATA event is an initiative by E-Tourism Frontiers and TripAdvisor and brings together destination managers, marketing executives and digital media experts in regional events to discuss the growing importance of user-generated content in travel planning. The event aims to improve the way destinations use digital tools and content created by travellers. For more information: http://news.gtp.gr/2015/11/24/rhodes-host-tripadvisors-destination-academy-europe/

New investment will lead to major tourism development on the island of Chios

A 100 million euro investment into the island of Chios has fast tracked by the Greek Government. The project includes the construction of a five-star luxury resort, an apartment complex, a thalassotherapy facility, a conference centre, a paleontological theme park, a marina, a museum and educational institute. For more information: http://news.gtp.gr/2015/11/23/massive-chios-tourism-project-gets-green-light

Wine tourism in Northern Greece

Gastronomy event and travel organiser Trip2taste has joined forces with the Kir-Yianni winery to promote wine tourism in the northern Greek region of Naousa. The partnership will open a new visitor centre at the winery in spring 2016 and will continue to build on wine tasting and culinary events. This region is famous for the indigenous Xinomavro variety of grape and wines made from this grape are known for their superb ageing potential and their rich tannic character. For more information: http://www.trip2taste.com/trip2taste-kiryianni/

How to get there: Fly to Thessaloniki with easyjet.com from about £153 return per person in May 2016 and use Greece's second city as a base to explore the region. Hire a car and drive 1 hour 15 minutes to Kir-Yianni winery. 

Greece keeps picking up awards

Greece has had another outstanding award winning month with the following wins: 

• Sani Resorts has been awarded by The Sunday Times Travel section with the title “Best-Value European resort”. Moreover, Sani's hotels, namely Sani Beach Hotel, Porto Sani Village and Sani Asterias Suites have received the sustainability certification Travelife 2014-2016, the Green Key and ISO14001 in 2015.
• Amathus Beach Hotel in Rhodes was announced the Best Green Hotel of the Year and Grace Santorini won the award in this year's newest category Best Boutique Hotel at the European Hospitality Awards 2015.
• Two Greek hotels are among the ten luxury hotels to be named the winners of the fourth Historic Hotels of Europe (HHE) Awards. The Marpessa Smart Luxury Hotel, an authentic 1920's mansion in Agrinio, won the “Best Historic Hotel New Member Award 2016” whereas Aigialos Luxury Traditional Settlement in Santorini was named “Best Historic Hotel with a 'Story to Tell 2016'.
• Anazoe Spa at Costa Navarino in the region of Messinia in south-west Peloponnese was recently honoured with the top accolade in three categories at this year's SPA Traveller Awards, namely Best European Spa to Recharge, Best Wellness Spa Europe and Best for Golf and Spa Europe.
• The Grand Resort Lagonissi has once again received the prestigious World Luxury Hotel Award in the “Luxury Hotel & Conference Centre” category. In the same awards Aldemar Royal Mare has received a global recognition in the category of “Luxury Thalasso & Spa Resort”.

For more information: http://www.luxuryhotelawards.com/winners/2015-hotel-awards; https://thespatraveller.com/awards/the-spa-traveller-awards-2015-winners;http://www.arena-international.com/european-hospitality-awards-2015-winners-announced/3206.article; http://www.historichotelsofeurope-awards.com/

Choco Factory Museum opens in Athens

Following the massive success in Thessaloniki, the pop-up Choco Factory Museum has made its way to Athens and has now set up the interactive Choco Factory Museum at the Helexpo Center in the northern Athens suburb of Maroussi. Visitors to the museum will have the chance to learn more about the history of the cocoa plant, the role of cocoa in Aztec culture, and through simulated activities get the opportunity to experience the real conditions of the Amazon jungle where the cocoa tree grows. Chocolate lovers will have the chance to see the whole chocolate making process, participate in the packaging and of course sample some amazing chocolates. The Choco Factory Museum will be open to the public until 21 February 2016.

Opening hours: 9am-7pm daily, Saturday 11am-9pm, Sunday 11am-7pm. Admission at 7 euros, family rates at 20 euros (per four-member families). For more information: http://chocofactory.helexpo.gr/chocofactory/en/

New ITV drama filmed in Corfu

New ITV drama The Durrells, scheduled for 2016 is wrapping up shooting in the Greek island of Corfu. The Durrells is based upon Gerald Durrell's classic trilogy of Corfu memoirs including the much loved 'My Family and Other Animals'.  Set in 1935, ITV's brand new six part series is written by acclaimed screenwriter Simon Nye and produced by Sid Gentle Films Ltd with Keeley Hawes and Leslie Caron leading a cast of British and Greek actors. For more information: http://www.itv.com/presscentre/press-releases/keeley-hawes-leads-cast-new-itv-drama-durrells

Trekking Hellas to participate in Adventure Travel Show, 23 & 24 January 2016

Trekking Hellas, one of Greece's most successful adventure travel companies founded in 1986 by two mountain guides, will participate as exhibitors at the Adventure Travel Show in London in January 2016. The company has 13 branches spread over Greece and packages have been designed to appeal to a wide range of tastes from the most adventurous to those who wish to discover the real beauty of Greece at a slower pace. Packages include hiking in mountainous regions, cycling, kayaking, white water, rafting, island hopping, yoga, caving and paddle boarding. They offer guided and self-guided tours as well as tailor-made options and family trips. Celebrating their 30th anniversary, Trekking Hellas will announce more packages and trips at the Adventure Travel Show. For more information: http://www.trekking.gr/company/news/adventure-travel-show-london